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The allegations that prompted Bernard Looney’s resignation from BP included an accusation that the chief executive promoted women with whom he had undisclosed past relationships, according to people familiar with the matter.
The romantic relationships with BP colleagues that are in question all allegedly occurred before Looney became chief executive in 2020 but had not been disclosed to the company, the people said.
Looney’s abrupt departure earlier this month has rocked the 113-year-old British energy group, raising questions over the number and nature of his workplace relationships as well as his conduct while at the helm of the company.
In response to the Financial Times, BP stated that appointments and promotions at the company undergo rigorous hiring and talent management processes, ensuring fairness and diversity. No employee, including the chief executive, can unilaterally make appointments.
“These processes include detailed role descriptions, interviews with diverse hiring panels, third-party assessments, and diverse candidate slates,” BP explained. “Promotions and appointments are not made solely at the behest of any single executive or individual.”
When BP announced Looney’s departure on September 12, it revealed that he had resigned after failing to disclose details of all relationships during a previous review. The board had conducted an investigation into an anonymous complaint about Looney’s romantic relationships received in May 2022 and found that none of the relationships had breached BP’s code of conduct.
During the 2022 review, the board had extensive discussions with Looney, during which he admitted to four past relationships with colleagues and assured the board in writing that he had nothing else to disclose, according to individuals with knowledge of the process.
Subsequent allegations made in September by a female BP whistleblower identified additional undisclosed relationships, according to insiders familiar with the complaint.
Current and former BP employees, particularly those based at its London headquarters, have reportedly discussed Looney’s history of romantic relationships with colleagues for years. Looney joined BP in 1991 and was married from 2017 to 2019.
Although BP’s code of conduct does not prohibit personal relationships with colleagues, it does highlight them as a potential conflict of interest.
Murray Auchincloss, Looney’s successor as interim chief, has confirmed that BP’s strategy remains unchanged. The process of selecting a permanent replacement for Looney is currently underway.
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